Nationwide Report on Cancer in Dogs

BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM

In 2021, Nationwide insurance company released a white paper showing analysis of 1.6 million claims relating to cancer over a 6-year period. Within these claims they analyzed breed statistics as well as prevalence of specific body systems within breeds. Generally, the study found that purebred dogs were 1.9 times more likely to develop cancer than non-purebred dogs. For purebreds, Nationwide focused on the top 25 insured breeds by the company, which accounted for a sample size of at least 10,000 dogs per breed during the sample period. Of the top 25 breeds insured by Nationwide, boxers, beagles and golden retrievers were at highest risk. Boxers were at highest risk for neurologic, cardiac and skin cancer. Beagles had the highest risk for bladder, endocrine and liver cancer. Golden retrievers were at highest risk for cardiac, splenic and liver cancers. The breeds with the fewest cancer-related claims were Pomeranians, Chihuahuas and French Bulldogs.

The lowest average age at first cancer claim belongs to the Great Dane at 6.2 years of age, followed by the French bulldog at 6.8 years. The oldest average age was the Maltese at 10.8 years followed by the miniature dachshund at 10.7 years. The youngest average age for cancer by body system belongs to skin cancer at 8.11 with the oldest average age of cancer onset by body system is Liver at 10.56.

More analysis of this study as well as previous and future studies can be found at www.petinsurance.com/petdata.